MxMIndia

Category: Top Stories

  • For digital marketing transformation of Indian Companies

    Onads & StrategiQ collaborate

    Onads and StrategiQ, a UK-based digital marketing company, have formed an alliance to offer Digital Transformation Services to Indian companies.

    Said Jignesh Maniar, Founder of Onads said: “While India is heralding in to the digital revolution, we notice that many Indian legacy companies are yet to up their ante on Digital Marketing Transformation. Both Onads and StrategiQ are part of Amin worldwide and when I saw the impact of the fantastic work by Andy and his team,  I realised that it is time to offer Indian companies truly the best in class digital transformation services.”

    Andy Smith, Founder of StrategiQ added: “While we are working with many global opportunities, it is truly recognised now that this century belongs to India. Onads, led by Jignesh, has done some truly remarkable work and Jignesh in his career through his work, has developed some landmark marketing campaigns with deep understanding of the Indian consumers. We are very excited about this partnership.”

  • Appoints new ECDs

    Havas bolsters creative team

    Havas, the creative agency of Havas India, has strengthened its creative team with the appointment of Arjun Jetly, Neharika Awal, Ajitesh Verma, and Monish Gupta as Executive Creative Directors.

    Based out of Gurugram, all four will report to Anupama Ramaswamy, Chief Creative Officer of Havas Worldwide India, and will be responsible for further strengthening the creative offering of the agency.

    Speaking about the appointments, Anupama Ramaswamy, Chief Creative Officer, Havas Worldwide India, said:“Now is the time for our work to shine. And I can’t think of a better team to lead this than Neharika, Monish, Arjun and Ajitesh. I’m delighted to welcome them into the Havas family. They are a dynamic bunch, brimming with new ideas, each having their own individual strengths, which will not just help the brands we work on but also the teams. I believe in their capabilities and mindset to take Havas Worldwide India to newer heights.”

  • Reveals new logo and tag line

    Bandhan Life unveils new brand identity

    Bandhan Life, formerly known as Aegon Life Insurance, has announced its new identity along with a fresh tagline ‘Bharat Ki Udaan, Bandhan Se’.

    Said Akhil Almeida, Head of Marketing, Bandhan Life: “The launch of our new brand identity is a pivotal moment in how we communicate the value of life insurance. Moving away from traditional narratives that focus solely on life’s uncertainties, we choose to celebrate and elevate the aspirations of Bharat. We envision an India where every individual feels empowered to secure their future and pursue their aspirations. This vision is encapsulated in our new tagline, “Bharat Ki Udaan, Bandhan Se.”, which promises to lift the nation through strengthened relationships. The new logo features a budding flower, symbolizing potential, and new beginnings. The choice of colours was carefully considered – while the red is adopted from the Bandhan Group conveying commitment and a sense of protection. The blues convey stability, trust, and dependability and together these make an ideal combination for a new life insurance brand.”

    Added Satishwar B., MD and CEO of Bandhan Life: “This transition sets the stage for an amazing new chapter for us. Looking ahead, our vision for the next five years is set: transforming Bandhan Life into a leading multi-channel insurance company. We will be expanding our presence across all relevant product categories. We believe that the strength of a bond can propel one to greater heights— As we fortify the bonds of trust with our customers, our collective ambitions soar. Bandhan Life will enable all stakeholders to soar higher, because we believe that every dream fortified by Bandhan is a flight towards a brighter tomorrow.”

  • Empowering & encouraging first time voters

    Air India Express launches campaign for elections

    Air India Express, the low-cost sibling of Air India, has launched its #VoteAsYouAre campaign, an initiative aimed at “empowering and encouraging the nation’s youth”.

    Speaking about the campaign, Siddhartha Butalia, Chief Marketing Officer, Air India Express, said: “As a brand that champions connectivity and inclusivity, Air India Express is committed to empowering the youth and fostering active citizenship. With a fifth of the world’s youth demographic, India’s demographic dividend can also be the world’s democratic dividend. The fact that #VoteAsYouAre trended organically across India on the eve of the first phase of the world’s largest democratic exercise ever, in the midst of a myriad topical conversations, is a tremendously gratifying validation of the movement capturing the imagination of an aspiring India seeking a voice of representation and the power of their collective voice.”

  • Conceptualised by The Bridge sports media house

    Dabur launches campaign for Chyawanprash

    Dabur has launched a campaign for its Chyawanprash brand. The ad focussed on its commitment towards some of the fastest-growing sports in India, with the “AndarSeStrong” refrain.

    Conceptualised by The Bridge, the campaign features a variety of top athletes from kabaddi, athletics, hockey and boxing were a part of this campaign, sharing their lives and routines while Dabur Chyawanprash was integrated seamlessly to emphasise the theme of “AndarSeStrong”.

    Said Rakesh Tahiliani, AGM Marketing – Health Supplements, Dabur India Limited:  “We are committed to supporting the aspirations of Indian athletes at all levels. The ‘AndarSeStrong’ campaign, featuring Olympic athletes and Pro Kabaddi League players is a testament to our belief in the power of inner strength and resilience. By bringing organisations like One Thousand Hockey Legs and Bridges of Sports Foundation into the spotlight, we aim to inspire individuals to unleash their potential and pursue their passion for sports.”

    Added Arshi Yasin, Founder & CEO, of The Bridge: “We are proud to conceive & execute this campaign that aims to celebrate diverse sports like Kabaddi, Hockey, Athletics, Boxing, etc. As a responsible media house, we must educate the masses & raise awareness by bringing out such stories to the forefront. There wouldn’t have been a better brand than Dabur to collaborate with on this idea. Since this is an Olympic year, it becomes imperative for us to strengthen such storytelling to garner interest & engagement among the audience.”

  • To launch White Label to expand its Integrated Marketing domain

    White partners with Rohit Tugnait

    White, the media marketing agency, has announced its partnership with Rohit Tugnait, former Commercial Director of Vice Media Group, to launch ‘White Label’ division to start a new content solution division with the company.

    Expressing his enthusiasm about the partnership Tugnait, who is designated Chief Executive Officer of White Label, said: “Vishesh Sahni (Founder – White) has a clear vision of where he wants to take White as an organisation and what it needs to stand for; which resonates perfectly with what I envision for White Label, so it is a great collaboration together for us. We have got most of the Vice team aboard and are ready to create magic for clients.”

    Speaking on the strategic partnership, Sahni added: “We have grown rapidly as an organisation, by creating some of the industry’s most talked-about experiences. Our profound understanding of culture equips us to offer meaningful, new-to-the-world thinking for our partner brands. Amidst some conscious, strategic moves as an organisation; the next organic step was to round out the integrated marketing approach by bringing Rohit and the team on to start White Label.”

  • The theme is ‘Innovating for Building New Revenue Streams

    Indian Magazine Congress in Mumbai on May 3

    Association of Indian Magazines (AIM), is all set to organise the 13th edition of its flagship event, the Indian Magazine Congress (IMC). This will be held in Mumbai on May 3. This year’s theme is how “Magazine Publishers in India are Innovating for Building New Revenue Streams”.

    Speaking on the congress, Anant Nath, President of AIM and Executive Publisher of Delhi Press said: “In the digital age, marred by information overload and cluttered digital spaces, the need for highly engaged and involved communities is ever more important. Magazine brands nurture spaces for readers to break away from this clutter, allowing them to find solace and comfort in a manner that is aligned with their interests and with like-minded peers. Magazines have therefore innovated new ways of monetizing their rich content and the highly engaged and invested audiences, and the IMC will throw light on these evolving paradigms.”

    The conference will have a daylong programming on following themes:

    • Subscriptions and New partner alliance
    • Leveraging e-commerce for subscription growth
    • Editorial credibility and robustness at the heart of new publishing models
    • Building new IPs on magazine content
    • New paradigms in branded content
    • Creators as collaborators for engaging content solutions
    • Product management innovations for digital age
    • Magazines nurturing and monetising niche reader communities

    Speakers at the event include:

    • Elsa Esparbe Gener, RBA
    • Kerin James O’Connor, Atlas
    • Shashi Sinha, IPG
    • Thampy Koshy, ONDC
    • Prasanth Kumar, Group M
    • Alastair David Lewis, FIPP
    • Raj Chengappa, India Today
    • Gaurav Banerjee, Disney Hotstar
    • Suagata Mukherjee, Sony Liv
    • Sameer Nair, Applause Enterntainment
    • Hormazd Sorabjee, Auto Car India
    • Naresh Fernandes, Scroll.in
    • Alex Kuruvilla, formerly Conde Nast India
    • Pradeep Gairola, The Hindu
    • Manavdeep Singh, Pub Live
    • Aditya Berlia, Apeejay Education
    • Abhishek Baxi, Independent journalist/ tech influencer
    • Vanita Kohli Khandekar, Business Journalist
    • Rati Choudhary, Decor creator (Instagram)
    • Neha Anand, Mahindra and Mahindra
    • Aditya Gurwara, Qoruz
    • Arti Raghavan, Free speech lawyer
    • B Srinivasan, Ananda Vikatan
    • Anant Nath, Delhi Press
    • Manoj Sharma, India Today
    • Dhaval Gupta, Cybermedia
    • Anurag Batra, BW BusinessWorld/ Exchange4Media
    • Riyad Mathew, Malayala Manorama
    • Girish Mallya, NextGen Publishing

    The conference agenda is available at https://aim.org.in/imc13/

     

  • Chopra was until recently Vice-President for Marketing and Communications at Stanza Living

    MSL appoints Sahil Chopra as COO for Publicis Consultants Asia

    MSL, Publicis Groupe’s strategic communications, has appointed Sahil Chopra as Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Publicis Consultants Asia (PCA).  In his new role, Chopra will be responsible for strategic guidance and oversee delivery of core services to client organisations in the entertainment, consumer and technology sectors. Chopra was until recently Vice-President for Marketing and Communications at Stanza Living.

    Said Amit Misra, CEO, MSL South Asia: “I am super excited to have Sahil join our team back. This appointment is strategic to our business needs at MSL, aimed at accelerating very specific communication and business needs of our clients. I am certain that Sahil will drive modern business communication impact and lead Publicis Consultants Asia to newer heights.”

    Added Viju George, Managing Director, PCA: “Category leaders operate in high-velocity environments and have a very specific way of working that requires specialists to meet their communication needs as these are tied to business outcomes. I am confident that Sahil has the understanding, the commitment to serve diverse needs of client organizations, and I am pleased to have Sahil a part of our team.”

    Chopra, as per his LinkedIn profile, worked with MSL for a little over two years — from June 2016 to July 2018.

  • Online Tennis Store

    Sociapa bags digital mandate for Tennishub

    Sociapa has bagged the digital mandate for Tennishub, an online Tennis store.

    Said Dheeraj Raj, Founder of Sociapa: “We are truly elated to join hands with Tennishub, a brand that exemplifies excellence in its field,” adding: “The prospect of embarking on this journey with Tennishub fills me with immense happiness and optimism.”

    Added Ronak Sachdeva, Founder, Tennishub: “We are equally thrilled to partner with Sociapa, recognizing the agency’s expertise and innovative strategies in the digital marketing landscape.”

  • For its media management and communication strategies

    Drone Destination appoints Dentsu for PR

    Drone Destination has announced its association with Dentsu Creative PR as its official public relations ad investor relations agency. The account will be managed from Dentsu’s Gurugram office.

    Commenting on the association, Sanjeev Anand, President, Dentsu Creative PR said: “We are excited to announce our partnership with Drone Destination. As we embark on this exciting chapter alongside Drone Destination, we are poised to set a new standard of collaboration that stands as a testament to creativity, innovation, and the pursuit of shared success. This strategic collaboration will allow us to service the company with our strategies and innovative ideas that resonate with Drone Destination’s vision and objectives.”

  • It’s an issue that keeps getting discussed everytime there is an awards event. Let’s hear it from Dr Bhaskar Das in the April 25 edition of Das ka Dum with Dr Bhaskar Das. Read on…

    Das ka Dum with Dr Bhaskar Das | Given the body of work one can see, do you think the days of the big agencies winning big are over?

    Bhaskar DasIf you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar or click here: https://www.mxmindia.com/category/columns/das-ka-dum/

    Q: Since it’s awards time, and given the body of work we’ve seen in the last two-odd years, do you think the days of the big agencies winning big are over? Or it’s still sometime before that happens

    A: The fetish for holding on to big versus small agency debate is an Industry pastime. In today’s day and age, size is irrelevant. What matters is the body of work that complements a client’s business and marketing objectives and creates a memorable impact on society/ its addressable market. In the real world today, Davids excel Goliaths in terms of creativity, impact and speed.

    Goafest, for instance, the most coveted awards programme in India, reflects the changing mores of adland. Everywhere in business and life, the old order has changed, yielding place to the new. If one doesn’t go with the changing flow, one will be swept by the wave or left on the wayside. Nostalgia doesn’t help as a force multiplier for the future.

  • 'The Age of Adaptability'

    Goafest 2024 unveils theme

    The Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) and The Advertising Club have announced the theme for Goafest 2024 – ‘The Age of Adaptability’. The three-day fest is scheduled to take place from May 29-31 at Westin Powai, Mumbai.

    Said Jaideep Gandhi, Chairperson of the Goafest Organising Committee: “The theme for Goafest 2024, ‘The Age Of Adaptability’, was chosen to reflect the current ethos of our industry. Adaptability is at the core of what we do – from adjusting to new media platforms to adopting innovative marketing strategies,” adding: “This festival will not only celebrate creativity but also the ability to pivot and thrive amidst challenges.”

    Added Rohit Ohri, Chairperson Goafest Content Committee: “This year, at Goafest 2024, our central theme ‘The Age of Adaptability’ has a chameleon as a mascot. The chameleon is a creature known for its remarkable adaptive prowess. Like the chameleon, which adjusts its colors to match its environment, our industry too must continuously evolve its strategies and creative approaches to thrive in changing landscapes. This year’s festival will celebrate and cultivate the chameleon-like ability to adapt swiftly and effectively, ensuring our practices remain on the cutting-edge of creativity and relevance. The Age Of Adaptability concept has been created and designed by the young and very talented team at Abnormal Design Studios.”